The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-08-11
Allan Quartermain
BY H. Rider Haggard.
Author of "She," King Solo
Mons Mines" "Jcss," "Thc
Witch's Hcad,' Etc.
CHAPTER ii.
THE BLACK HAND.


through many adventures which need not DO
recorded horc
At Charra wo had violent quarrel with
tho headman of tho bearers wo had hired TO
10 as far Gs this, and who now wished TO OK
tort large extra payment from us. In tho re-
suit ho threatened to set the Masai-about
whom more anon--on to us. That night he,
with all our hired bearers, bolted, stealing
most of tho goods which had been intrusted
to them to carry. Luckily, however, they
had not happened TO steal our rifles, ammuni-
ton and personal effects; not because Of any
dclicacy Of feeling on their part, but owing
TO tho fact that they Glanced TO DO in tho
charge Of tho five WaiwaGs. After thatSit
was clear to us that wc had had enough Of
caravans and OF bearers Indeed, wo had not
much lett for caravan to carry. Ard yet
how were wc to got on'
It was Good who solved the question.
"Here is water" he said, pointing to the Tana
river; "and yesterday saw PARTY Of na-
tives hunting hippopotami in canoes. UNDER
stand that Mr.. Macken2ie's mission station ia
OH the Tana river. Why not get into canoes
and paddle up to itl"
say. received with acclamation; and in
stantly set to work to buy suitable canoes
from tho surrounding natives. / succeeded
utter delay Of three days, in obtaining two
largo ones, each followed out OF single log
of some light wood, a,,d capable Of holding
six people and baggage For these two canoes
we had to pay nearly all our remaining cloth,
and also many other articles.
On tho day following our pUr:.hase Of the
two canoes we effected start. In tho first
canoe were Good, Sir Henry and three of our
Waswai followers; in tho second myself,
Umslopogaas and the other two Waliwniis.
As our course lay up tho stream, we had to
keep four paddles at work III each canoe,
which meant that the whole lot OF us, except
Good, had to row away like galley slaves;
and very exhaustng work it was. say ex-
cept for of course the moment That Good got
into a boat his foot was on his native heath
and he took command of the party. And
certainly he worked u.s. On shore Good is
gentle, mild hammered man, and given to jo-
costly; but, as we found to our cost, Good i'll
a boat was q perfect demon 10 begin with,
he know all about it, and we didn't. On all
nautical subjects, from the torpedo fittings OF
a man Of war down TO tho best way OF
handling the paddle of an African canoe, he
was perfect mine of information, which, to
say tho least of it, we were not. Also his
ideas of discipline were Of the sternest, and,
in short, he came tho royal naval officer over
us pretty coiy1Derably and paid d, out amply
for all the ch. wo werc wont to treat him
to on land; but, on the other hand, am
bound TO say that he managed the boats ad-
mirably.
Three days after our start an oininors incl
dent occurred. We were just drawing in to
the bank to mako our camp, as usual, for the
night, when we caught sight Of figure
standing OIL little knoll not forty yards
away, and intently watching our approach.
Ono glance was suillcient-although l was
personally unacquainted with the tribc-to
tell mo that he was Nasal Elmoran, or
young warrior. Indeed, had l had any
doubts, they would have been quickly dis
PEELED by tho terrified ejaculation of "Masai!'
that burst simultaneously from tho lips OF
our Waliwah followers, who are, as l think
have said, themselves bastard Nasal.
And what figure he presented as he stood
there in his savage war gearl Accustomed
as l havo been to savages all my life, do not
think that | have ever before seen anything
quito SO ferocious or awe inspiring. To begin
with, the man was enormously tall, quite as
tall as Umslopogaas, should say, and beau-
tifully, though somewhat slightly, shaped,
but with the face of devil In his right
hand he held spear about five and half
feet long, tho blade being two and l,llf feet
In length by nearly three inches in width,
and having an iron spike at the end OF the
handle that measured more than foot. On
his left arm was large and well made clip
teal shield of buffalo hide, on which were
painted strange, heraldic looking devices.
On his shoulders was huge cape Of hawks
feathers, and round his neck was "naiberc,"
OF strip of cotton, about seventeen feet long
by one and a half broad, with a stripe Of
color running down the middle Of IL. The
tanned goat skin robe, which formed his
ordinary attire in times Of peace, was tied
lightly round his waist, so as to servo tho
purposes of belt, and through it were stuck,
ON the right and left sides respectively, his
short, pear shaped sine, or sword, which is
made of n single piece OF steel, and carried In
a wooden sheath, and an enormous knobker-
ri But perhaps the most remarkable fea-
ture of his attire consisted Of a headdress OF
ostrich feathers, which was fixed on the chin,
and passed in front of the cars to the fore
head, and, being shaped like an ellipse, com
pletely framed the face, so that the diabolical
-ountenance appeared to project from sort
Of feather fro screen. Round tho ankles be
wore black fringes of hair, and projecting
from the upper portion of the calves, to which
they were attached, were long spurs like
spikes. from which flowed down tufts Of the
beautiful black and waving hair OF the Co
lobus monkey. Such was the elaborate nr-
ray of the Nasal Elmoran who stood watch
ing the approach of our two canoes, but it is
one which, to DO appreciated, must DO seem
only those who SEQ it do not often 1.-Two to de-
scribe IL. OF course, / could not mako out
oil these details Of his full dress on the occa-